How Early Can One Have an Abortion? What to Expect?

It is always better to get an abortion done at the earliest, to avoid any complications. When calculated from the last month period (LMP), around 88% of all the abortions done in the United States are done in the first 12-13 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes, for various reasons, a woman might cross this period and get an abortion later. In such scenarios, you should consider how it will impact your health and whether you will have to consider any law regulations set for getting an abortion.

How Early Can You Get an Abortion?

Actually, it can be as early as 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. This is usually the time when intra-uterine pregnancy is confirmed. In many areas, it is consider "intent to murder" if you try to get an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

So if you are still thinking about having an abortion, especially in the second or even third trimester, you should take abortions laws into consideration. You can find the details of legal situation pertaining to abortion and other information here.

Opt for Contraceptive Measures

Abortion may hurt your body and even damage your ability to have babies in the future, so if you are not planning to get pregnant, you can take an emergency contraceptive pill or morning after pill. This can be used when your contraceptive measure fails – condom tearing, condom slipping off – or having unprotected sex.

Depending on the pill, it can be effective for as long as 120 hours, however, its effect decreases with time. Emergency contraceptive pills should be taken only in time of emergency and not as a regular contraceptive.

Options for Early Abortion

Abortion can be done through various measures, depending on the duration of pregnancy. In the first trimester it can be done medically or surgically. Neither type can reduce the chance of getting pregnant or staying pregnant in the future.

Option

Medication Abortion

Aspiration Abortion

Time

10 weeks from your LMP

12 weeks from your LMP

How to Do

The abortion pill, also called mifepristone, is taken at the clinic.

After 6-72 hours, next pill, misoprostol, is taken at home as instructed.

This will happen at the clinic and the process will require around 5-10 minutes.

The contents of pregnancy arere moved from the uterus, through the vagina using medical instruments. Call your doctor if you face any problems.

Pain & Bleeding

Mild to severe cramping on and off during the process. Pain medication can be taken for it.

Later there will be light bleeding for 1-2 weeks, intermittently.

Similar to medication abortion, there will be mild to severe cramping during the abortion.

There will be light bleeding for around 1 week and intermittent bleeding for next few weeks.

Cost

Depending on the area, the facility and the timing of pregnancy, maybe $300 to $800 in America.

Aspiration abortion can cost up to $300 - $950 in the US, if done within first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Success Rate

98-99%

If it fails, aspiration abortion will be required

99%

If it fails, a repeated aspiration abortion is required.

Advantage

No need needles, anesthesia or medical devices

Feels natural like miscarriages

Done early in 1st trimester

Less bleeding

Shorter recovery time

Professional staff are around

Can be done a little bit later

Disadvantage

Need 1-2 days to complete

Bleeding is heavier and longer

More invasive with instruments inserted through vagina and anesthesia applied

What Are the Side Effects of an Abortion?

1. Physical Side Effects

Besides the symptoms we have mentioned in the above chart, some other side effects of abortions are:

Nausea, Vomiting and diarrhea

Heavy bleeding with blood clots

Abdominal pain and cramps

Infection or sepsis in uterus

Uterus can get perforated or there can be scarring of the uterine lining

The cervix or other organs can get damaged

Really rare, but death may happen

2. Psychological Sides Effects

No matter what the answer to "how early can you get an abortion" is, you will be definitely affected by it. So the decision of getting an abortion should be made after it has been well thought of. Some of the mental health effects are given below: